10 Locksmith Services You Might Not Know About

Around the home

1. Rekeying. Change which key works your locks without replacing them. Ideal after moving in, after a lost key or when a tenant leaves.

2. Deadbolt installation. Add a deadbolt to a door that only has a knob lock, or upgrade an old one. A properly installed deadbolt with a reinforced strike plate is one of the most useful security upgrades for a front door.

3. Lock repair. Sticky keys, loose handles and latches that miss the strike plate can usually be fixed. In Brisbane's damp air, a cleaning and the right lubricant often bring a lock back to life.

4. Keypad locks. Swap a key for a code on the front or side door, so nobody needs to hide a key under a pot plant.

For cars

5. Car key replacement. New keys can be cut and, in many cases, programmed on site, even when every key is lost.

6. Broken key extraction. A key snapped off in a door or ignition can usually be removed without damage, and a replacement cut.

7. Ignition repair. Worn ignition cylinders that will not turn, or that turn without a key, can be repaired or replaced.

For businesses

8. Master key systems. Managers carry one key, staff carry only what they need, and the business keeps control of who can open what.

9. Panic bars and exit devices. Exit hardware lets people leave quickly in an emergency while keeping the door secure from outside. Installation should follow the fire and building codes that apply to your space.

10. Cabinet, desk and locker locks. Small locks protect files, tools and equipment, and they wear out or lose their keys just like door locks.

Which one do you need?

If you are not sure, describe the problem rather than the fix. A good dispatcher will help you decide between:

• Rekeying versus replacing a lock
• Repairing a worn lock versus upgrading it
• A spare car key now versus a full replacement later
• A master key system versus simply rekeying a few doors

Where to start

Browse the residential, commercial and automotive pages for more on each service, and check the price list for starting prices. Brisbane addresses in 94005 are all within the service area, from the hillside homes to Sierra Point and Crocker Park.

A last tip: whichever service you book, ask for the quote before work begins, ask what warranty applies, and keep the invoice. Those three habits make every locksmith visit smoother. They also make it much easier to compare one locksmith with another, because you end up comparing the same things each time: the call fee, the labour, the parts and the warranty, rather than headline prices that leave most of the cost out.

Small jobs that save money later

Several of these services are cheap compared with the problems they prevent. Having a spare car key cut before the last one fails costs much less than an all-keys-lost job. Rekeying after a move costs less than replacing locks. Fixing a door that will not latch keeps a lock from wearing out early.

It also helps to book small jobs together. That is especially true on Brisbane's hillside streets, where parking and stairs make every visit a little longer. If a technician is already coming to rekey your front door, ask about the sticky side gate, the garage entry and the mailbox at the same visit. Combining work means one service call fee instead of several, and you finish with every lock around the property in good order.

Finally, keep a record. Note the brands of your locks, how many keys exist and who holds them. Next time something goes wrong, that list makes the phone call quicker and the quote more accurate. Keep it with your home paperwork, and update it whenever you rekey, add a lock or hand a key to someone new. A few minutes of record keeping now can save a confused phone call later, when you are standing outside a locked door trying to remember which key opens what.